Taxpayers still owed $132.9 billion from bailout

Government watchdog: Some of it will never be recovered

(AP) WASHINGTON — A government watchdog says that U.S. taxpayers are still owed $132.9 billion that companies haven’t repaid from the financial bailout, and that some of it will never be recovered.

The bailout begun at the height of the financial crisis in September 2008 will continue for years, according to a report issued Thursday by Christy Romero, acting special inspector general for the $700 billion bailout. Some bailout programs, such as the effort to help homeowners avoid foreclosure by reducing mortgage payments, will last up to 2017, costing the government an additional $51 billion or so.